Tubular structural members for tubes



W0 6, 1936; A, G 'UGE 2,056,667

TUBULAR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS FOR TUBES Fil'ed Feb. 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get. 6, 1936. A, GO'UGEV' 2,056,661.

TUBULAR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS FOR TUBE S Filed Feb: 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE TUBULAR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS FOR TUBES Arthur Gouge, Rochester, England, assignor to Short Brothers (Rochester & Bedford) Limited, Rochester, England Application February 8, 1936, Serial No. 62,996 In Great Britain April 11, 1935 2 Claims. (Cl. 18936) This invention relates to tubular structural having their longitudinal borders out-turned to members and it particularly relates to such memform flanges a a b b These flanges are bers when they are connected to the ends of the curved to a radius struck from a centre located tubes into which they pass and are riveted on the neutral axis of the web portion so that through the tube from the interior of the member they fit closely in the end of the tube to which to the exterior of the tube. theyare fixed by the rivets 0 In order to form The attachment consists of a central web hava tongue for attachment to the load bearing ing flanges at each side which are thinner than members, the flanges are cut away at one end the web itself, the relative thickness of the web so as to leave web extensions a, b which are to the flanges being determined by a considerafixed to each other by rivets d. 10 tion of the strength of the tube in which the plug In the alternative form of plug shown in Fig. is to be inserted. The flanges extend outwardly 5, the whole is extruded with a web e, and outin opposite directions somewhat similar to the wardly directed flanges e e e e two at each shape of a letter H and are bent to a radius struck side of the web. As in the previous construction from the neutral axis of the web so as to form the flanges are cut away in order to leave a tongue an external cylindrical face of a size adapted to for attachment to load bearing members. rest in close contact with the interior wall of the The attachment is suitable for construction in end of a tube into which the flanged web is inany metal but may be specially applicable for serted. A portion of the web extends in a longiconnecting thin steel tubes to connections by tudinal direction beyond the distance of the means of plugs formed of a lighter but more 20 flanges. ductile metal, which owing to its lesser gravity When the attachment is inserted in a tube, weight can reasonably be formed of greater holes are drilled through the flanges and through thickness than if made from thin steel of which the tube and rivets are passed through these holes the tube is composed.

and are securely closed so as to firmly connect It will be understood that by machining the 2.3 the flanges to the material forming the tube itplug of a given size, it can bemade suitable for self. The web with its flanges forms a plug which a whole range of tubes of the same external diis simple in application and attachment and ameter but varying in gauge of metal. which, when applied to the tube, produces a com- What I claim as my invention and desire to pleted component capable of withstanding comsecure by Letters Patent is: so pression or tension fully up tothe strength of the 1. In tubular structures, in combination, a tube,

tube itself. The plug can be manufactured in an end fitting comprising a central web extending several ways, such for instance, as being made up diametrically across the tube, two end flanges on of sheets in which the central portions of two each side of the web which flanges extend in opflanged members are secured together, the flanges posite directions to each other and are curved to themselves being composed of the out-turned correspond in shape with and to fit closely in the borders of the plate on each side. Alternatively, interior of the tube, and a flat tongue forming an the plug can be formed from an extruded section, extension of the central web and projecting out parts of the flanges being cut away in order to of the tube adapted for attachment to other parts leave a suitable tongue for attachment to load of the structure and means for fixing said flanges 40 bearing members. to the tube.

Two forms of construction are illustrated by 2. In tubular structures, in combination,atube, way of example in the accompanying drawings, in an end fitting constructed of two plate members which: each consisting of a central web extending dia- Fig. 1 is a section through the end of a tube, metrically across the tube, an end flange on each 45 showing also in section a plug according to this side of the Web, said fiange being curved to correinvention attached to the tube. spond in shape with and to fit closely against the Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 in Fig. 1. interior of the tube and a flat tongue forming Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plug detached. an extension of the central web projecting out of Fig. 4 is an end view of the plug. the tube and adapted for attachment to other 50 Fig. 5 is a cross-section through an alternative parts of the structure, said plate members being form of plug. arranged back to back and means for fixing the In Figs. 1 to 4 the plug is constructed of two plate members together and to the tube. sheets of metal a, a having their central parts 5 superposed on each other to form webs a b and ARTHUR GOUGE. 

